Mother

The young mother set her foot on the path of life.
"Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said "Yes, and
the way is hard, and you will be old before you reach the end of it.

But the end will be better than the beginning." But the young mother was happy,
and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.
So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, taught them
how to tie their shoes and ride a bike, and reminded them to feed the cat and do their homework and brush their teeth.

The sun shone on them and the young

Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."
Then the nights came, and the storms and the path was sometimes dark, and
the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and
covered them with her arms and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid,
\for you are near, and no harm can come." And the morning came, and there was a
hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was
weary.

But at all times she said to the children, a little patience and we are
there." So the children climbed and as they climbed they learned to weather the
storms.

And with this, she gave them strength to face the world.
Year after year she showed them compassion,understanding, hope, but
most of all......unconditional love.
And when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have
done it without you." The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the
years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her
children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay
down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the
last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to
their children."

And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her
their strength, just as she had given them hers.

One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a
shining road and golden gates flung wide. And Mother said: "I have reached the end of my
journey.
And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children
can walk
with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their
children after them."

And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when
you have gone through the gates."
And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates
closed after her.

And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother
is more than a memory. She is a living presence. Your Mother is always
with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street,
she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick
and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're
not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winters day.
She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a
rainbow,she is your birthday morning.

Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's
crystallized in every tear drop.

A mother shows every emotion........

happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger,helplessness,
excitement, joy, sorrow..... and all the while hoping and praying you
will only know the good feelings in life. She's the place you came from,
your first home, and she's the map you follow with every
step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy,
but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space.......not
even death!

PASS THIS ON TO ALL THE DAUGHTERS AND SONS YOU
KNOW......MAY WE NEVER TAKE OUR MOTHERS FOR GRANTED